How to remove the new sidebar in Firefox after recent update

Mozilla’s latest Firefox updates (versions 133 and 134) have started rolling out a new sidebar and vertical tabs experiment to more users in stable releases. Designed to boost multitasking, this feature lets you stack tabs vertically and manage bookmarks, extensions, and synced tabs in one place. While some users appreciate the convenience, others find the sidebar intrusive and want it gone.

Here’s how you can remove or disable the new sidebar and reclaim your screen space.

Option 1: Tweak the toolbar settings

1. Open the Sidebar: If it’s not already visible, click the sidebar icon at the top-left corner of the browser.
2. Customize the Sidebar Button: Scroll to the bottom of the sidebar and click the gear icon for settings.
3. Switch the Sidebar Button Function: Change the sidebar button’s action to “Show and hide sidebar.”
4. Hide and Remove the Button: Use the sidebar button to close the sidebar. Then, right-click the button in the toolbar and select Remove from Toolbar.

This method removes the sidebar button and keeps the feature out of sight.

Option 2: Use about:config to disable the sidebar completely

For users who want a permanent fix, Mozilla’s about:config settings provide a solution:

1. Access about:config:
   • Type about:config into Firefox’s address bar and hit Enter.
   • Accept the risk warning to proceed.
2. Search for the Sidebar Setting:
   • In the search box, type sidebar.revamp.
   • Change the value to false by double-clicking the setting or using the toggle button.
3. Restart Firefox: After making the change, restart your browser to ensure the sidebar and its associated features are fully disabled.

For those of you who want a visual guide, you can check out this helpful video shared on YouTube:

Why the sidebar exists (and how to opt out)

The new sidebar is part of Mozilla’s ongoing experiments to modernize Firefox’s interface and multitasking tools, according to them. However, Mozilla knows these changes might not suit everyone. To completely opt out of the experiment:

• Go to about:studies in your address bar.
• Find the sidebar experiment in the list and disable it.

Mozilla plans to gather user feedback before deciding whether the sidebar becomes a permanent fixture. If it sticks around, further refinements are likely. But for now, users who prefer a clean and familiar interface have multiple ways to turn it off.

Did these steps work for you? Let us know your thoughts!

Featured image credits: heydrewster / Reddit